willpower

American  

[wil-poh-er] / ˈwɪlˌpoʊ ər /

Or will power

noun

1. control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

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willpower British  

/ ˈwɪlˌpaʊə /

noun

1. the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions

2. firmness of will

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Etymology

Origin of willpower

First recorded in 1870–75; will ² ( def. ) + power ( def. )

Explanation

Willpower is the ability to control or restrain yourself. If you bake brownies and can keep yourself from tasting them until after dinner, you can thank your willpower. A less descriptive — but simpler — way to say willpower is simply will. Whichever word you prefer, you can use it to describe someone's deliberate or purposeful control. In the case of willpower, the person is likely to be resisting a temptation or impulse. It takes willpower not to argue with someone whose opinions make you angry, and willpower to eat just one potato chip.

Example Sentences

Karen struggles with phone addiction, noting a psychologist’s advice on habits over willpower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

It’s much easier to stock a supportive fridge, prep a few flexible building blocks and make healthy food genuinely delicious than it is to rely solely on willpower.

From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026

"We must fight to be truly free, and that can only be achieved through willpower."

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

Keeping pre-cut fruit within reach in the refrigerator or placing sweets out of sight can support long-term goals without requiring constant willpower.

From Science Daily • Jan. 5, 2026

All the willpower he’d used to work his way free deserted him.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• firmness
• grit
• self-control
• self-discipline